US4475836A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Backscrubber and/or backscratcher with removable sponge element
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-12-15
•
Granted: 1984-10-09
•
Expires: 2003-12-15
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a device which is both a backscrubber and/or a backscratcher in which a sponge is utilized to provide the contacting member. A handle of conventional design is provided and a stem portion of wire or wire-like material extends therefrom. At a selected distance from this handle a pivot means is provided in this stem portion. Beyond this pivot means the end of the wire member is bent or formed into an arc-like configuration to provide one-half of a tong-like jaw. Another and like wire or wire-like member is pivotally retained and one end portion is compatibly formed to provide the other half of a tong-like jaw. The other end of this member is bent into a hook to provide a lock means for the jaws. A sponge is formed with a reduced midportion which is sized to be gripped and retained by the tong-like jaw ends. A sponge having a pocket for the insertion and retention of a soap bar is shown. Meshing means for retaining the tong-like jaw ends are also shown.
Inventors
- 👤 Aldo Colognori
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:38
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L13/00; A47L13/10; A47L13/16; A47L13/17; A47L13/42; A47L13/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
A device for scrubbing and/or scratching the back of a user and providing means for manipulation by said user to reach otherwise inaccessible areas of the body, said device including: (a) a handle portion adapted for grasping by the user; (b) a wire-like stem portion secured to and extending from said handle portion; (c) a pivot means provided at a determined distance from said handle and on said wire-like stem portion; (d) a tong-like jaw formed from the distal end portion of the wire-like stem portion, this tong-like jaw formed into a semi-circular configuration of a selected radius; (e) a separate wire-like length member having a midportion adapted to engage and be retained by said pivot means so as to be rotated and swung about said pivot means; (f) a tong-like jaw formed in the end portion of this separate wire-like length, said tong-like jaw formed into a semi-circular configuration with a radius similar to that in the complimentary jaw; (g) a hook retaining configuration formed in and at the other end of the separate wire-like length member and adapted to engage and be removably retained by said stem portion, and (h) a sponge formed from resilient material of a selected softness and having a reduced intermediate portion configured and sized so as to provide and be gripped when and while the tong-like jaw portions are in a closed and retained condition.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
232 words
A device for scrubbing and/or scratching the back of a user and providing means for manipulation by said user to reach otherwise inaccessible areas of the body, said device including: (a) a handle portion adapted for grasping by the user; (b) a wire-like stem portion secured to and extending from said handle portion; (c) a pivot means provided at a determined distance from said handle and on said wire-like stem portion; (d) a tong-like jaw formed from the distal end portion of the wire-like stem portion, this tong-like jaw formed into a semi-circular configuration of a selected radius; (e) a separate wire-like length member having a midportion adapted to engage and be retained by said pivot means so as to be rotated and swung about said pivot means; (f) a tong-like jaw formed in the end portion of this separate wire-like length, said tong-like jaw formed into a semi-circular configuration with a radius similar to that in the complimentary jaw; (g) a hook retaining configuration formed in and at the other end of the separate wire-like length member and adapted to engage and be removably retained by said stem portion, and (h) a sponge formed from resilient material of a selected softness and having a reduced intermediate portion configured and sized so as to provide and be gripped when and while the tong-like jaw portions are in a closed and retained condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as in claim 1 in which the pivot means is a pin and with said pin providing a pivot for the movable jaw member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as in claim 1 in which the sponge is formed with a pocket which extends into the internal portion of the sponge and the open end of this pocket is positioned in the reduced intermediate portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A device as in claim 3 in which the pocket is of a regular cross section and is adapted to receive a solid bar of soap and the tong-like jaws are sized and configured so that in a closed sponge retaining condition an intermediate portion of one of said tong-like jaws is caused to come in way of the open end of the pocket and block said open end to a dislodgement of the inserted bar of soap.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
A device as in claim 1 in which the pivot means includes a rivet having at least one end adapted to be formed into an enlarged portion and the wire-like portions adjacent the tong-like jaws are flattened at least at their facing surfaces and in these flattened areas of the wire-like portions there is a hole in each portion sufficient for the insertion of the rivet and the swaging of the end of the rivet is sufficient to retain the tong-like jaws.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as in claim 1 in which the tong-like jaws have their distal ends formed to provide a mesh retaining engagement when the jaws are brought together in a closed and clamped condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as in claim 6 in which the distal ends are formed to provide a male tapered end on one jaw and a compatibly formed female socket on the other jaw end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as in claim 7 in which the male shape is a cone and the female socket is a compatibly tapered recess.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as in claim 7 in which the male shape is a plural tapered form and the female socket is shaped with protruding portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as in claim 1 in which the sponge has a circular configuration with larger outer portions of substantially the same diameter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as in claim 1 in which the handle is a molding and is fixedly secured to the stem portion.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
235 words
A device for scrubbing and/or scratching the back of a user and providing means for manipulation by said user to reach otherwise inaccessible areas of the body, said device including: (a) a handle portion adapted for grasping by the user; (b) a wire-like stem portion secured to and extending from said handle portion; (c) a pivot means providing at a determined distance from said handle and on said wire-like stem portion; (d) a tong-like jaw formed from the distal end portion of the wire-like stem portion, this tong-like jaw formed into one-half of a figure eight configuration selected radii; (e) a separate wire-like length member having a midportion adapted to engage and be retained by said pivot means so as to be rotated and swung about said pivot means; (f) a tong-like jaw formed in the end portion of this separate wire-like length, said tong-like jaw formed into one-half of a figure eight configuration with radii similar to that in the complimentary jaw; (g) a hook retaining configuration formed in and at the other end of the separate wire-like length member and adapted to engage and be removably retwined by said stem portion, and (h) a sponge formed from resilient material of a selected softness and having a reduced intermediate portion configured and sized so as to provide and be gripped when and while the tong-like jaw portions are in a closed and retained condition.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
235 words
A device for scrubbing and/or scratching the back of a user and providing means for manipulation by said user to reach otherwise inaccessible areas of the body, said device including: (a) a handle portion adapted for grasping by the user; (b) a wire-like stem portion secured to and extending from said handle portion; (c) a pivot means providing at a determined distance from said handle and on said wire-like stem portion; (d) a tong-like jaw formed from the distal end portion of the wire-like stem portion, this tong-like jaw formed into one-half of a figure eight configuration selected radii; (e) a separate wire-like length member having a midportion adapted to engage and be retained by said pivot means so as to be rotated and swung about said pivot means; (f) a tong-like jaw formed in the end portion of this separate wire-like length, said tong-like jaw formed into one-half of a figure eight configuration with radii similar to that in the complimentary jaw; (g) a hook retaining configuration formed in and at the other end of the separate wire-like length member and adapted to engage and be removably retwined by said stem portion, and (h) a sponge formed from resilient material of a selected softness and having a reduced intermediate portion configured and sized so as to provide and be gripped when and while the tong-like jaw portions are in a closed and retained condition.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
236 words
A device for scrubbing and/or scratching the back of a user and providing means for manipulation by said user to reach otherwise inaccessible areas of the body, said device including: (a) a handle portion adapted for grasping by the user; (b) a wire-like stem portion secured to and extending from said handle portion; (c) a pivot means provided at a determined distance from said handle and on said wire-like stem portion; (d) a tong-like jaw formed from the distal end portion of the wire-like stem portion, this tong-like jaw formed into one-half of an ellipse configuration of a selected size; (e) a separate wire-like length member having a midportion adapted to engage and be retained by said pivot means so as to be rotated and swung about said pivot means; (f) a tong-like jaw formed in the end portion of this separate wire-like length, said tong-like jaw formed into one-half of an ellipse configuration with a size similar to that in the complimentary jaw; (g) a hook retaining configuration formed in and at the other end of the separate wire-like length member and adapted to engage and be removably retained by said stem portion, and (h) a sponge formed from resilient material of a selected softness and having a reduced intermediate portion configured and sized so as to provide and be gripped when and while the tong-like jaw portions are in a closed and retained condition.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
236 words
A device for scrubbing and/or scratching the back of a user and providing means for manipulation by said user to reach otherwise inaccessible areas of the body, said device including: (a) a handle portion adapted for grasping by the user; (b) a wire-like stem portion secured to and extending from said handle portion; (c) a pivot means provided at a determined distance from said handle and on said wire-like stem portion; (d) a tong-like jaw formed from the distal end portion of the wire-like stem portion, this tong-like jaw formed into one-half of an ellipse configuration of a selected size; (e) a separate wire-like length member having a midportion adapted to engage and be retained by said pivot means so as to be rotated and swung about said pivot means; (f) a tong-like jaw formed in the end portion of this separate wire-like length, said tong-like jaw formed into one-half of an ellipse configuration with a size similar to that in the complimentary jaw; (g) a hook retaining configuration formed in and at the other end of the separate wire-like length member and adapted to engage and be removably retained by said stem portion, and (h) a sponge formed from resilient material of a selected softness and having a reduced intermediate portion configured and sized so as to provide and be gripped when and while the tong-like jaw portions are in a closed and retained condition.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-09 | 1988-04-09 | 1988-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-09 | 1992-04-09 | 1992-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-09 | 1996-04-09 | 1996-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |